Menstrual health in the US
Period health is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of reproductive autonomy. It includes the physical, mental and social well-being those who are menstruating. Achieving good menstrual health it requires access to accurate information, effective and affordable materials, sanitation facilities, a supportive social environment, and freedom to participate in all aspects of life without restriction or exclusion.
In recent years, a growing social and political movement has emerged to address menstrual inequity in the US, with policy efforts focused on addressing period poverty, eradicating period stigma, and promoting menstrual health. With over 21 million women living in poverty in the US, there is a demand to abolition of product taxes and push for provision free period products in public places. While substantial progress is being made, menstrual inequality remains a threat to achieving gender equality and empowerment in the United States. ability to manage menstruation with choice and dignity.
Menstrual health in post-Roe Landscape
The political environment in the US is becoming increasingly hostile to issues related to sexual and reproductive health. In June 2022, the US Supreme Court reversed nearly fifty years of precedent in a six-to-three majority decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, allowing states to independently decide the legal parameters of abortion access and care. From his overthrow Roe v. Wade, 24 states have banned or are likely to ban abortion. These restrictive state abortion policies may also have indirect consequences for period health.
Preferred menstrual patterns
Changes in menstruation due to the use of contraceptives, referred to as menstrual changes caused by contraceptives;, can be both a guide and a deterrent for contraceptive users when deciding which method best suits their family planning wants, needs, and goals. Users may seek contraceptive methods to suppress their periods for various reasons such as: management of menstrual and gynecological disorders, reduction of gender discomfort associated with menstruation; for transgender and intersex users, or simply not experiencing period bleeding every month as a matter of personal preference. There are various hormonal contraceptives which can be used to achieve the intended goal of menstrual suppression, including some long-acting reversible contraceptive methods such as the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (IUD). Individuals must be empowered and supported in their decision to use contraceptionbut some US policymakers, encouraged by his reversal Roetrying to restrict access to certain contraceptivesmaking it harder for people to achieve their preferred menstrual patterns.
IUDs and emergency contraception, in particular, are increasingly under attack. Some anti-abortion advocates have conflated abortion and contraception by arguing that certain methods “cause premature abortions“. However, according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the IUD works by preventing sperm from fertilizing an egg. However, it is not only anti-abortion activists who hold these unscientific beliefs. A recent study found that approx 1 out of 6 obstetrician-gynecologists, and even more so among other specialties, held misconceptions about IUDs as abortifacients—substances that cause the termination of an implanted fertilized egg. This inaccurate representation of contraception is currently fueling the political debate and potentially affecting access to contraception for many.
Some people think so strange to believe that lawmakers are trying to limit access to contraceptives, yet Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion in Dobbs that the Court “must be reconsidered” other precedents concerning the right to privacy and specifically naming Griswold v. Connecticut – the landmark decision that established the right of married couples to use contraception. Without federal legislation ensuring access to contraceptives, some people seeking contraceptive-induced menstrual suppression could soon face obstacles.
Digital menstrual health data
Period tracking apps (apps) are a health literacy tool used to increase body awareness and empower menstruators by analyzing user input to better identify patterns, changes or abnormalities in the reproductive cycle. With an estimated 50 million users worldwide, period tracking apps are making a huge impact in helping menstruators achieve greater bodily autonomy. However, in a post-Roe landscape, misuse of the digital data produced by these applications as well have the potential to be harmful to users. As more states adopt policies restricting abortion, these seemingly innocuous digital trails could be presented as criminal evidence.
As a warning, experts have pointed out examples of digital trails created by other types of technology that have been used to incriminate people for illegal abortions. This cause for alarm is further fueled by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin account blocking prohibit police from issuing search warrants for digitized menstrual cycle data from electronic devices. Since data from period tracking apps is outside its scope Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, it is even more important to strengthen privacy laws regarding health-related data. The lack of data protection is not only harmful to users of period tracking apps seeking abortions, but is also worrisome for users who may miscarry, report menstrual cycle irregularities, or simply have an incomplete engagement with the app. In today’s political environment, advocates have even encouraged it people to switch to paper tracking methods and forego the use of digital trackers.
Menstrual Health Education
Period health education, an integral component of youth sexual well-being and empowerment, is also threatened in a post-Roe America. Menstrual hygiene education is already in place are mostly ignored in curricula across the country; one study found that many adolescent girls in the US are inadequately prepared to deal with puberty and menstrual health due to challenges in accessing quality menstrual education. Without proper support and education, young people are forced to overcome the challenges of managing menstruation on their own. ONE lack of education about menstruation it can cause serious consequences for decision-making about sex, relationships and family planning, which has a greater impact on the lives of teenagers than early pregnancy and marriage. Furthermore, without menstruation education and support, individuals are more possible to experience depression and low esteem. Incorporating period health teachings into comprehensive sexuality education can address critical knowledge gaps among menstruating adolescents, further preventing health risks and other social barriers.
However, since his overthrow Roe, policymakers are introducing restrictive legislation to limit critical discussions about reproductive health. In Florida, a Member of Parliament proposed a bill This would only allow students in grades 6 through 12 to participate in sexual health education, leaving access to important sexual health information unavailable to students in lower grades. When asked about whether students in 5th grade or younger who are experiencing menstruation would be able to discuss their period under this bill, the proposed lawmaker admitted that he overlooked this important issue. At the post office-Roe era, it is more important than ever that students have a solid, non-stigmatizing understanding of menstruation and the reproductive cycle.
conclusion
State-level abortion bans not only affect access to abortion care, but also have broader effects on menstrual health. Advocates in the US must work to ensure access to contraception, privacy, and comprehensive sexuality education that includes menstrual health to ensure that menstruators can make informed choices about their reproductive health. Faced with a difficult political landscape, climaxing even before his reversal Roeit is imperative to protect an individual’s human right to sexual and reproductive well-being, regardless of zip code.
Read the whole newspaper’Missed period? The importance of period tracking apps in a post-Roe America by Bridget Kelly and Maniza Habib in the SRHM Journal
Bridget Kelly is a Doctor of Public Health student at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Maniza Habib is a Research Associate at the Population Institute in Washington, DC.
